Gloucestershire Genealogy

Cheltenham Postal (Mail) Services In the 19th Century

It is easy to forget how towns have been
transformed in the last two hundred years. The following is taken from Volume 1
of Gloucestershire Notes and Queries, published in 1881.

Once more (as the Cheltenham Chronicle, December 19, 1876, has recorded) the
officials of the Post Office seek a new abode from want of room in the old one.
Nothing illustrates the marvellous growth of Cheltenham within the last hundred
years more than a glance at the history of its postal arrangements.

A hundred years ago Cheltenham meant High-street, a little above and a little
below the Plough; and our readers, or at least some of them, will be astonished
to hear that in 1776 the dead body of a murderer was gibbeted in the Marsh, at
the back of Clarence-square. Postal arrangements were of a very primitive order
in those days. The London coach used to pass Frog Mill, and thence to Crickley,
on its way to Gloucester. At Frog Mill passengers and letters for Cheltenham
were dropped, when there were any, and thence were brought here. There was no
post-office of any kind. An old woman, known to local fame, used to deliver the
letters when it was convenient, or when she chose. It is amazing how this
institution-for the old woman appears to have been one-was not destroyed years
before she disappeared from public life. The town possessed a fashionable
population, and they must have had correspondence to some extent; and it seems
too much to believe that they allowed an old woman to carry their letters in her
pocket for a week, because it was not convenient to her to deliver them. This
ancient lady, however, disappeared at last; and the system of private
post-offices was instituted. The first of these were opened in 1800, at 127,
High-street. After this several were established in different parts of
High-street; and if anything can throw an air of romance about a post-office,
which is exceedingly doubtful, it would be the fact that one of these was kept
by Mr. Entwisle, the step-father of the Duchess of St. Albans, whose story is
the solitary romance Cheltenham possesses. These private post-offices multiplied
and replenished Cheltenham till a regular system was introduced; and the first
office worthy of the name was opened in Clarence-street, in the premises now
occupied by Mr. Karn.

A change was made in April, 1842, when the office was removed to the late
premises in the same street. Now, December 128, 1876, a new move is made to the
Promenade, and the description of the building will show that another departure
is not likely in our time. .................... The premises are of a
substantial character, and well suited for the convenience of the public.